Musicians rehearse for an outdoor concert at the Tianjin Grand Theater this month. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Open-air performances attract audiences during pandemic
Closing her eyes and reclining in her seat, Tang Xiaogu spent a memorable evening in Tianjin this month listening to musicians from three symphony orchestras perform at an open-air concert.
Tang not only enjoyed the music, but also the cool summer air and the soothing sound of water cascading from a fountain.
The concert on Aug 17, which featured musicians from the Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei symphony orchestras performing under the baton of conductor Li Biao, was the first at the Tianjin Grand Theater since the venue closed due to the coronavirus pandemic more than 200 days ago.
The works performed included the classic Chinese concerto Butterfly Lovers, played by violinist Lyu Siqing, Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A major, and Lezghinka, from composer Aram Khachaturian's ballet Gayane.
An audience of about 800 sat on stairways encircling the main stage, which was set against the backdrop of a lake, park and the fountain.
Tang, 30, said: "I am a big fan of classical music and often watch performances at the Tianjin Grand Theater. The last one I saw there before the pandemic was on Jan 17. It's been such a long time and I couldn't wait to get back to the theater."
"It's a bit like going to an outdoor music festival, and summer is the very best time of year to listen to classical music concerts outdoors."
The work Wuhan 2020, written by conductor Li's longtime friend, the German composer Enjott Schneider, premiered at the concert. The 10-minute piece, which was written in just two days, portrays emotions triggered by the virus, such as fear, depression, confidence and courage.
The performing arts industry was badly affected when the pandemic emerged early this year. Concerts and other live shows were canceled and audiences urged to stay home to curb the spread of the virus.
On Aug 10, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said theaters could limit attendance at each performance to 50 percent of capacity, with audience members not allowed to sit next to one another. In May, the government announced that theaters in low-risk areas could reopen, but only at 30 percent of capacity.
The Suzhou Symphony Orchestra has played chamber music at outdoor concerts every night since April. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Sound solution
With event organizers working to restart the industry and keep audiences safe, outdoor performances appear to be a good solution.
Han Xue, manager of the artistic administration department at Tianjin Poly Theater Management Co, which manages the Tianjin Grand Theater, said the company started to build the new outdoor venue on July 30, and the work was completed in 19 days. The outdoor stage occupies about 160 square meters.
"I want to offer audiences a safe space to enjoy live music, and the opening concert proved successful," Han said, adding that the performance was also broadcast online, attracting an audience of more than 2 million.
The National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra, the China NCPA Orchestra and the China Philharmonic are set to perform on the outdoor stage, as well as pianist Zhang Haochen and tenor Shen Yang.
Han said outdoor concerts are not permanent replacements for live indoor shows, but are aimed at attracting audiences back to the theater.
Indoor venues at the Tianjin Grand Theater have reopened, Han said, but audience members must wear a face mask during performances, register by using the QR health code on their phone and have their temperature taken on arrival.
Yao Liang, principal violinist with the China Film Symphony Orchestra, which was founded in 1949, said: "We are delighted to play a part in bringing back live music events. We musicians are eager to get back on stage.
"Although it's still challenging, as social distancing measures mean fewer paying customers are allowed into venues, we will do our best to engage with our fan base again."
The Tianjin Grand Theater stages an outdoor concert this month. [Photo provided to China Daily]
On Sept 5, Yao will play with the China Broadcasting Film Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Liu Fengde during a 10-hour concert on stages built along a beach at the Beidaihe resort in Hebei province.
Works adapted from movie soundtracks will be performed, including pieces written by Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi for Chinese director Jiang Wen's movie Let The Bullets Fly and for Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki's animation Castle in the Sky.
Yao said: "For both musicians and audiences, it's a great experience to play and enjoy music close to nature.
"However, it's a challenge for our instruments, as proper temperature and humidity controls are essential to keep them in good condition."
On Aug 8, Yao led the China West End Philharmonic Sinfonietta at an outdoor concert in Chongli district, Zhangjiakou, Hebei, a popular ski resort and a host for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The symphony orchestra, which is based in Beijing, was founded by Yao in 2005.
"Audiences are now craving live entertainment again and artists are craving opportunities to perform. For the time being, it's a good solution to attract audiences back to classical music concerts by staging outdoor events," Yao said.
He added that the classical music market in China has boomed during the past decade.
Many parents want their children to learn to play classical music, and such concerts quickly sell out in big cities. However, the pandemic meant that performance venues had to close.
Like many business meetings, a large number of musical events moved online, with symphony orchestras performing in front of cameras in empty halls to stay in touch with audiences.
"During the pandemic, we have to work hard to play as much as possible so that audiences will continue to enjoy live classical music concerts," Yao said.
"These performances give us the chance to engage with a relatively small group of listeners, and have the potential to fundamentally change the relationship between artists and audiences."
Audience members applaud during the concert at the Tianjin Grand Theater. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Virtual events
Meanwhile, some organizers are experimenting with virtual events.
On Aug 20, the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra in Jiangsu province announced the program for its 2020-21 season at a virtual news conference supported by 5G and VR technology.
To mark the 250th anniversary of German composer Beethoven's birth, the orchestra will stage a series of live concerts from next month to December featuring conductors Xu Zhong, Chen Xieyang and Tan Lihua, and pianists Zuo Zhang, Yuan Fang and An Tianxu.
From January to July, the orchestra will perform works by German composer Richard Wagner and the Austrian, Gustav Mahler. Pieces by Russian composers, including Sergei Rachmaninoff, Dmitri Shostakovich and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, will also be staged by the orchestra.
The Suzhou Symphony Orchestra, which was founded in 2016, comprises more than 70 musicians from some 20 countries and regions, including China, Japan, South Korea and the United States. The musicians' average age is 30.
To celebrate its fourth birthday, the orchestra will tour eight cities in November, including Chongqing and locations in Yunnan and Hunan provinces.
Jiang Wenlong, from the orchestra's publicity department, said that since April, the musicians have played chamber music at outdoor concerts every night from 8 pm to 9 pm.
The performances, which are staged for free, are a way for the orchestra to connect with audiences during the pandemic.
"Online and outdoor events are effective ways to get closer to our audiences. Music on a smaller scale will have to step into the breach. That means chamber music played by quartets and trios will be in great demand," Jiang said.
